Thousands mourn policeman killed in Italy soccer riot

Thousands of mourners flocked to a cathedral in the Sicilian city of Catania today for the funeral of a policeman whose death in a football riot has shocked Italy and prompted calls for new measures to curb stadium violence.

Pope Benedict XVI expressed his “spiritual closeness” to the family of 38-year-old Filippo Raciti, who was killed during street clashes at the Catania-Palermo Serie A match on Friday.